Evaluation of environmental impacts from microalgae cultivation in open-air raceway ponds: Analysis of the prior literature and investigation of wide variance in predicted impacts

Effect of the light emitting diodes intensity and photoperiod in the optimization of the Spirulina (Arthrospira) biomass production

“…Pero presentan desventajas en la disponibilidad de luz, agitación, pH, temperatura, evaporación, pérdida de CO2 cuando utilizan este tipo de fuente carbono, acumulación de oxígeno fotosintético (O2), requerimiento de terreno elevado y susceptibilidad a la contaminación (Ramírez-Mérida et al, 2015a,b), por lo que sus rendimientos son bajos (Brennan y Owende, 2010). El agua evaporada puede ser restituida periódicamente (Handler et al, 2012). Su mezclado debe ser adecuado para mantener las células en suspensión, evitando la estratificación térmica, optimizando la distribución de nutrientes, el intercambio del gas, reduciendo el efecto sombra y la fotoinhibición.…”

An overview of the potential environmental impacts of large-scale microalgae cultivation

“…CH 4 , CO 2 , N 2 O) with a strong global warming potential, as shown in Table 5. Any organisms' dependent on oxygenated waters can also be lost and replaced by other dominant species [132]. Accidental release of water from cultivation sites into the wider environment could lead to eutrophication events on a larger scale, particularly if cultivation takes place near a large water body such as a lake or a coastal area.…”

“…Eight life cycle assessments from a range of authors were compared in terms of fossil energy input (MJ) per kg dry biomass from raceway ponds [132]. Each study used different conditions, and hence the energy requirement varied considerably.…”

Obtaining high value products in a biorefinery topology using microalgae

“…Various authors have contributed to the optimization of the stages in growing microalgae, in open ponds (Handler et al, 2012) as well as in photobioreactors, (Pegallapati, Arudchelvam & Nirmalakhandan, 2012) biomass harvesting (Garzón-Sanabria, Davis & Nikolov, 2012), oil extraction (González-Delgado & Kafarov, 2012;Halim, Danquah & Webley, 2012) and -men, Sun & Carrington, 2010) or hydrotreatment for transformation into Green-diesel. We have also developed approaches to large-scale processing of microalgae using software for the entire biodiesel production chain using microalgae (Ofori-Boateng, Teong & JitKang, 2012) and for particular stages comparing existing and emerging technologies for extracting oil (Peralta-Ruiz, González-Delgado & Kafarov, 2013) and converting it into biodiesel.…”